The revised ASTM D6826-23 Standard Specification for Sprayed Slurries, Foams, and Indigenous Materials Used As Alternative Daily Cover for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills was published last week. Daily covers are an essential issue in managing odor release in landfills. This specification has been around for around 15 years, and this is the fifth revision of the text. 

   This specification defines procedures for determining the performance of certain landfill daily cover materials such as sprayed slurries, foams, and other materials generally described as an alternative daily cover (ADC) for municipal solid waste landfills. This standard specification does not apply to other types of landfills. Also, the text does not apply to geosynthetics used as ADC such as this one.

   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Subtitle D, establishing municipal solid waste landfills (MSWLF) criteria. These regulations became effective on October 9, 1991. The cover material requirements of these regulations are set forth in 40 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 258.21, as follows:

   (a) “Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the owners or operators of all MSWLF units must cover disposed solid waste with 6 in. (152.4 mm) of earthen material at the end of each operating day, or at more frequent intervals if necessary, to control disease vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging.”

   (b) “Alternative materials of an alternative thickness (other than at least 6 in. (152.4 mm) of earthen material) may be approved by the Director of the Solid Waste Regulatory Agency of an approved State if the owner or operator demonstrates that the alternative material and thickness control disease vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging without presenting a threat to human health and the environment.”

   Subcommittee D 18.25 revised this standard specification to address this and other regulations on odor control in MSWLF. Get this newly revised document here.

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